Beginning of Essay
Society would like to accept that children lost to gangs are from dysfunctional and uncaring homes. While in some cases this may be true, in many homes this is not the case. In Susan Horton's article "Mothers, Sons, and The Gangs" she speaks of three differen ....

Middle of Essay
.... living in a society pressured by gang affiliation. Although their homes had loving mothers their gangs had friends, bravado, acceptance, and a way of life. Studies prove that youth join gangs because of "low self-esteem and a stressful home life. A youth whose friends with gang- members and experiences peer- pressure to join. A youth with poor academic performance, a lack of alternatives, lack of positive support, a feeling of helplessness, and hopelessness, as well as very frightened youth who is intimidated by the gangs." (Yahoo, Lopez 29) Not all of these aspects are apparent in gang members but at least one is. In Teresa Rodriguez's case ....